[48.1] Morning is a Punishment

My body felt like it was glass and my head pounded without mercy. My throat was so parched it throbbed in pain, begging me to be relieved.

I let out a groan.

Ugh…

Why can't I still be asleep?

My eyes groggily opened as I scratched my dry throat in a daze.

Am I in the spare bedroom?

When did I get in here?

I sat up in a panic, "Cyrus!"

Where is he!?

Why isn't he here?!

Did that woman get him?!

I jumped out of bed ignoring the shooting pains and ran out of the room and stairs.

I called out in a panic, "Mummy! Papa!"

I didn't hear any response, nor did I give time for anyone to respond, as I rushed into the kitchen to search the room.

I froze upon seeing my mother showing Cyrus how to cook, "That's it. Now add the milk slowly…"

I blinked slowly in disbelief, "Um… What's this?"

Am I still sleeping?

My mother answered with a grin, "I'm teaching the Young Prince how to make breakfast that is perfect for hangovers."

Cyrus's eyes slowly turned to me with indifference, but there was a hint of warmth beneath his cold exterior, "It's more like lunch at this time."

I looked between the two of them, "Huh…"

Cyrus turned back to help my mother without saying another word.

My mother spoke, "Do you want to try to wake up your friends?"

Eh?

I tilted my head, "My… Friends?"

I thought back to the night before.

I can't remember what happened last night.

Most of it was a blur…

I pinched my eyebrows together and slapped my head to jog my memories.

Last night…

I remember hiding and-

My face lit up, "OH MY GOD! MUMMY!!!"

As I grabbed her in excitement, she faced me with a clueless expression, "Yes?"

"I made a friend last night!!!"

"I know. She's sleeping on our couch." She handed me a cup of coffee, "Maybe she will wake up for this."

I grabbed the coffee mug and skipped into our main room to find Marx laying face down on the floor and Rebecca sprawled out on the couch.

How did I not notice them earlier?

I nudged Marx with my foot to make sure he was still alive then moved to Rebecca. I waved the coffee in front of her nose, "Oi. You awake?"

She groaned and reached for the cup of coffee with her eyes still closed.

I watched her sip the coffee, "My mother is making breakfast."

Rebecca mumbled, "Eggs Benedict please."

I laughed, "Your wish is my command."

I walked back into the kitchen after finishing my task and plopped into my seat, "Rebecca wants eggs benedict."

My mother nodded, then paused, "What's that?"

I lay my head on the table to soothe my aching head with the cold countertop, "An English muffin with eggs and bacon on top."

"A-Ah… Okay, I will see what I can do." My mother stepped away from the kitchen to place down coffee in front of me, "This is your first time drinking, so you've probably never had a hangover before."

I groaned and took a sip of my coffee, "Not in this life."

Cyrus put down a plate of food in front of me and silently sat in his seat with his own meal. I raised my eyes to look at him, but he didn't meet my gaze.

Did I do something to him last night?

It feels like he's acting differently toward me…

Almost like…

He's avoiding me?

My heart broke out into rushed throbs. I anxiously leaned toward him and spoke in a whisper, "I… I didn't do anything too bad last night, right?"

His body tensed up and he looked at me rigidly, "Did you forget?"

I froze in my spot.

Oh no…

I DID do something!

But what did I do!?

I remember climbing the stairs and…

Entering his room…

My face deadpanned.

Oh yeah.

I puked all over him.

Rebecca entered the room after smelling the food and sat beside me. She glanced between Cyrus and me, "Whoa. How tense. You two are acting as if someone broke into the other's room and-"

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment and I raised the cup of coffee to my lips to hide my guilty expression.

Rebecca gasped, "Oh, Reika. You didn't. How dare you take that precious boy's innocence!?"

I spat out my coffee across the table. I shouted loudly, "I didn't do that!!! I just puked on him! That's all!"

"Oh, Reika…" My mother let out a sigh and shook her head, "Now I know why Cyrus was up so early cleaning."

H-He cleaned it up too!?

Rebecca pursed her lips, "How boring."

My face burned brighter, "B-Boring!?"

I'm dying of embarrassment over here!

How can she think that's boring?!

Cyrus didn't pay us any attention and quickly finished his meal. After he finished, he stood up with his empty dishes, "Allow me to do the dishes for you, Miss Della."

Della smiled at him, "Oh, that's not necessary."

He shook his head, "I insist."

"Oh, what a sweet boy." She leaned back in her seat and stretched, "I was just going to use magic, but if you insist then I won't stop you."

As he went to the sink to hand wash the dishes, I sipped on my coffee while staring daggers at him.

Ah. He would make such a good house husband.

I bet he would look good in an apron too.

I can already picture him with a cold indifferent stare wearing only an apron~

I shivered.

Great.

Now I can't get that image out of my head.

….Should I buy him an apron?

Rebecca looked between the two of us. An ominous smirk appeared on her face, "So how long have you two been together?"

I spat out my coffee as Cyrus flinched and dropped the dishes.

*Smash*

My mother stood up and cried out, "Not the good plates!!! Those were gifts…"

I wiped at my mouth and averted my gaze sheepishly, "T-Together!? What makes you think that!?"

Rebecca hummed playfully, "Hmm? You're not? But you kept raving about how handsome he was and how much you were dying to get in bed with him last night-"

I cried out, "I WAS NOT!"

The tips of Cyrus's ears turned red and he quickly walked out, "I'm going to go train."

I jumped up to run after him, "Wait! Goldilocks!!! Don't run away!"

I ran out of the room chasing after him.

My mother cast a glance at Rebecca, "You two really get along."

Rebecca elegantly drank her coffee, "You could say we're kindred spirits."